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Message
re: Why do so many good universities offer unmarketable degrees?
Posted on 8/1/19 at 2:31 pm to volod
Posted on 8/1/19 at 2:31 pm to volod
I think the entire premise of this thread is wrong. There’s a big difference between a degree being a bad return on investment vs. being useless. People say that most degrees are devalued nowadays but I think the opposite, in the sense that there aren’t a ton of options outside of manual labor for someone without a degree.
Yes, you can go to trade school or (in many cases) not go to school at all and have equal or greater earning potential than you would with a liberal arts degree. And yes, you can make a hell of a lot more money over a lifetime by picking the right major.
But that’s like saying the only two career paths in this country are chemical engineer and welder. Not everybody has the ability to make it through an engineering program. And not everybody wants to be a welder. There are, literally, millions of jobs in this country that require a bachelor’s degree without specifying major(s).
I’ll put it another way: registered nurses typically make less over their lifetime than engineers and, in most cases, spend as much or more time in school. Does that making nursing degrees useless? Of course not. Everyone knows that we need healthcare professionals. Well, the same thing applies to the rest of society.
Could they have invested their time/money better from an ROI standpoint? Sure. Does that make their degree worthless? No.
Yes, you can go to trade school or (in many cases) not go to school at all and have equal or greater earning potential than you would with a liberal arts degree. And yes, you can make a hell of a lot more money over a lifetime by picking the right major.
But that’s like saying the only two career paths in this country are chemical engineer and welder. Not everybody has the ability to make it through an engineering program. And not everybody wants to be a welder. There are, literally, millions of jobs in this country that require a bachelor’s degree without specifying major(s).
I’ll put it another way: registered nurses typically make less over their lifetime than engineers and, in most cases, spend as much or more time in school. Does that making nursing degrees useless? Of course not. Everyone knows that we need healthcare professionals. Well, the same thing applies to the rest of society.
Could they have invested their time/money better from an ROI standpoint? Sure. Does that make their degree worthless? No.
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Posted on 8/1/19 at 2:39 pm to volod
Because a main role of a university is to provide overpaid employment to academic elitists who have no marketable skills or knowledge themselves.
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 2:40 pm
Posted on 8/1/19 at 3:34 pm to volod
Winds are shifting. Many degrees are indeed of little to no value. Not just in terms of money, either.
The extremely low standards of getting even a Masters in most Liberal Arts programs is disgusting.
There are people with advanced degrees in History and English who can barely write.
The programs have largely been taken over by narrow minded ideologues as the genuine academics are retiring.
The current unsustainable paradigm within higher ed is going to see significant change in the not so distant future. It is long long overdue.
The extremely low standards of getting even a Masters in most Liberal Arts programs is disgusting.
There are people with advanced degrees in History and English who can barely write.
The programs have largely been taken over by narrow minded ideologues as the genuine academics are retiring.
The current unsustainable paradigm within higher ed is going to see significant change in the not so distant future. It is long long overdue.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 3:41 pm to volod
Because so many unmarketable people are going to college these days
Posted on 8/1/19 at 4:32 pm to volod
Because college isn't about careers.
It's about education.
You can argue whether it should be this way or not, but that's a separate argument.
It's about education.
You can argue whether it should be this way or not, but that's a separate argument.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 4:51 pm to celltech1981
quote:
If you get out of high school and major in psych
If you are going to do this, then
quote:
waiting tables
Is a great experience for it.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 4:55 pm to The Spleen
quote:
I wonder how many people are aware that Obamacare is FUNDED by the interest from student loans ?
This is flatly false.
--------------------------
THis is ABSOLUTELY TRUE, 100% FACT
I wonder how many people are aware that Obamacare is FUNDED by the interest from student loans ?
This is flatly false.
--------------------------
THis is ABSOLUTELY TRUE, 100% FACT
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 4:55 pm
Posted on 8/1/19 at 4:55 pm to tigahbruh
quote:
The extremely low standards of getting even a Masters in most Liberal Arts programs is disgusting.
There are people with advanced degrees in History and English who can barely write.
You are talking about the school, not the degree. That isn't going to happen at a quality school.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 5:07 pm to volod
I was just thinking to myself today that I hadn't seen a volod thread in a while. Where have you been?
Posted on 8/1/19 at 7:50 pm to Welderman420
quote:
I’m not sure, but based on my welding skills you’d think I graduated from Harvard with a degree in welding
I welded up a frame crack on a small zero-turn mower today. Based on my welding skills I'm glad I have several angle grinders at the ready.
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 7:51 pm
Posted on 8/1/19 at 7:52 pm to Obtuse1
quote:
That isn't going to happen at a quality school.
Harvard admitted David Hogg, the kid is barely literate now and will be little better if he graduates.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 7:58 pm to volod
College is not job training nor should it be.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 8:01 pm to hawkster
quote:
provide overpaid employment to academic elitists
Most professors spend between 5-7 years on postgraduate degrees only to start under $70k per year. Yea ... most are not in it for the money.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 8:03 pm to High C
quote:
I don’t have a problem with those degree programs, but they should come with a clear disclaimer. You will never find a fricking job in the field of your degree, know this going in.
With exception of some finding employment at a liberal arts university and thus perpetuating the cycle
Posted on 8/1/19 at 8:21 pm to Pepperoni
quote:
With exception of some finding employment at a liberal arts university and thus perpetuating the cycle
Most people don't even understand what a Liberal Arts University is. Take for example Duke, all the majors in the school outside Engineering (Pratt) are in Trinity the other undergrad college at Duke. "Liberal Arts" has nothing to do with politics but with the Greek system of learning and includes fine arts, philosophy, social sciences, mathematics, physical sciences and religion.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 10:11 pm to Obtuse1
Should have placed liberal in quotes, was not referring to classic fields of study.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 11:06 pm to Pepperoni
Too bad there aren’t degrees in common sense,I have stepson with 3 degrees-Economics,History and now Geology,so obviously he’s intelligent.But his life has been a series of crisis’s ,one after the other.The police,money,women,alcohol,you name it.Drives me crazy especially when he comes with his latest tale of woe and tells me”I should have listened to you”.He has never listened to any advice,it’s like he has to personally make the mistake himself . 
Posted on 8/1/19 at 11:33 pm to volod
quote:
Given the high rates of unemployment for certain majors, why do universities keep supporting certain programs.
For example, Tulane has degree programs in African and Latin American studies.
And every major university has programs in Psychology and Sociology. Now granted, you could use these as a gateway to other professions but if were honest that isnt what they are used for.
The universities are not having a problem at all marketing the degrees from appearances.
You question would be better stated as to why people choose degrees that are unmarketable?
Answer: they are easy and the students get to lay up on grants and loans and avoid the real world while kicking the consequences down the road hoping sweet Auntie Sammie will cancel their debt.
Posted on 8/2/19 at 5:12 am to GreatLakesTiger24
quote:
A university isn’t a trade school you simpleton
So you're saying all degrees don't have to be useful? If it weren't for federal loans, do you think these schools would still offer shite degrees after people realized they were worth the money?
quote:
The people who run this country have liberal arts degrees, and we need people to teach those courses
Most politicians don't simply have a degree in history or art, if they even have those at all. Many continue on and get law degrees, and as far as I can tell, there is no specific degree that gets you into law school.
So if the only reason we need these programs is to educate future politicians and the college professors to teach them, then we really don't need those programs at every university, do we?
Cut out the federal loans, and I'd imagine alot of universities start dropping those programs. Just look at how many people with those degrees are unemployed. Several articles based on census data pointed to Liberal Arts, Psychology, and Mass Media as the degree paths with the highest unemployment rates--some climbing towards 7%. That's nearly double the national average.
Posted on 8/2/19 at 5:14 am to volod
because lots of stupid people want to go to college, they don't possess the ability to get a real degree, so there are cake majors so they too can call themselves "college graduates"
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